Who needs movie superheroes like Iron
Man when audiences can rely on a panda named Po with a sick
kung fu kick? Not Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black or
any of the stars of "Kung Fu Panda."
The computerized movie from DreamWorks Animation, the
studio that gave audiences the hit "Shrek" films, stole the
media spotlight at the Cannes film festival on Thursday with a
message that anyone can be a hero if they believe they can.
"The superhero is only there in culture because people feel
a deficiency inside them," Hoffman told reporters at a news
conference here. "You don't need a superhero. The superhero is
inside you."
In a summer movie season where "Iron Man" already is
nearing $200 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, and
other comic book characters like Batman and the Incredible Hulk
are due to hit theatres in coming weeks, it's obvious that
moviegoers love their superheroes.
But animated movie "Kung Fu Panda," which debuts around the
world starting in June, is an unconventional screen idol built
more for laughs than for beating up the bad guys.
Po (voiced by Black) is fat, lazy and serves noodles at his
dad's cafe. Yet he dreams of being like the kung fu fighters
taught by Master Shifu (Hoffman).
When Po is mistaken for a mighty warrior who will save the
valley in which he and all his animal friends live, Po must
learn to be the tough-minded panda of his wild imagination.
Problem is, Po is far better at eating than fighting --
unless he has food for motivation. Then, he is pretty tough.
"I think of myself as kind of a bear. I'm very furry and
soft and squishy and lazy, and sometimes fierce and crazy.
There was little acting involved. "I am Po; Po is I," said
Black -- no svelte movie star, himself.
In fact, he said, "It is some of the best work I've done."
Jolie, who voices a fighter called Tigress, said "Kung Fu
Panda" with its theme of discovering one's true self inside and
out, is perfect for kids.
She said three of her growing pack of children -- she is
pregnant with twins -- have already seen and liked the animated
film. "And they are my biggest critics," Jolie said with a
smile.
(Editing by Paul Casciato)
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